Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
sad news about homebase
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by EyeSpy on
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My surprise is nil. I'm not even sure what Homebase is trying to be any longer. The DIY supplies are hugely overpriced and there is too much local competition, the lifestyle stocks are limited in range, weird partnerships on flooring and kitchens. It hasn't made any sense to me for a long time.
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I completely agree. The only things I buy there these days are plants.
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The branch in green lanes was sold by homebase at least a year ago, they just havent bothered taking the sign down
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Permalink Reply by Geraldine B on
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Yes, the store got quite strangely mixed up. I also knew this was looming from the staff, many of whom i had got to know from my many visits over the years (for all sorts of items). They were all so helpful and friendly. I wish them well and hopefully MUCH better jobs. Maybe this cloud has a happy outcome for some too instead of sad.
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Moral is the boss doesn't always know what is best...BHS, Woolworths...
But how could business people be so stupidly arrogant?
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Permalink Reply by Jon C on
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Where in any of this does it mention the Harringay branch? Never mind its ownership and mismanagement, does anyone actually know what is going to happen to it?
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No-one will know about any of the branches yet, Hilco only agreed to take Homebase (all of it) off Wesfarmers hands for £1 a week ago. Some months of waiting yet.
martinconfusion above reckons the Harringay branch was sold a year ago. I don't think so, but I do notice a decline in stock and activity in the last 12-18 months which makes it feel like it was.
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Actually I think Martin is right- it was sold about a year or so back as I understand. Since then the displays have been wretched compared to the old days when it was quite a pleasant place to wander around.
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Yes - it was sold to the Australian chain Bunnings, together with every other Homebase Store - although the decline seemed to start then in the last year or so their stocks of Tools etc and even plants, did improve - now, however...
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Timeline - Jan 2016 was when Home Retail Group sold Homebase (all branches and assets) to Wesfarmers -- http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-35340384
As said before, all senior managers were cleared out at the drop of a hat thereafter.
In Oct 2016 the first Homebase branch was rebranded/restocked as a Bunnings, which is a good fit with the change of stock and style though not branding in the Harringay branch that we all have noticed.
At the sale the concessions like Carpetright and Laura Ashley were given a year's notice, expiring early 2017.
And in Sep 2017 one business analyst likened Wesfarmers' strategy to The Pythons' Black Knight, insisting he's OK to fight on despite losing limb after limb...
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I had a chat with the manager there the week the acquisition went through. I'd always enjoyed shopping there and found the advice, and the general atmosphere to be excellent. The manager was losing his job that week because Bunnings fired all the store managers on day one. Surprisingly, their enterprise failed. Who could possibly have predicted it...
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Permalink Reply by matt on
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Bunnings fired all the store managers on day one. Really? Thought the Aussies were all about giving everyone a 'fair go'. If that is the case Hilco must have stipulated this as part of their re-structure so they get to choose who they re-hire, but on a different contract, once they decide which stores are kept.
The Aussies well and truely stuffed up. Our local branch had just had an excellent make over (one of 30 at the time in the country) then they moved in, ripped it all out and started dumping pallets of cheap products everywhere. Maybe a crass way of trying to emulate the approach to food of the likes of Aldi and Lidl. Just without a propper business model.
Hilco is only there now to cut out the loss making branches, re-negotiate staff contracts and supply contracts, then sell on at a profit asap. The Harringay branch should survive.
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